77: Wise people choose to follow their hearts!

Endless earth power was being frantically drawn by him and poured into his body!

Under the support of this power, his massive frame was not crushed; instead, it slowly began to push upwards!

Crack!

Crack!

The river water, compressed into a solid iron plate by the sea suppressing talisman, was actually forced open by him, creating huge fissures!

On the ship, City Lord Zhuang Bai, who originally wore an expression of confident wisdom, had his smile instantly freeze.

"What?!"

He stared in horror at the violently churning river surface below, sensing the terrifying force of stubborn resistance rising from the riverbed, his eyes filled with disbelief.

How was this possible?!

The power of the sea suppressing talisman was enough to suppress the Peak Spirit Transformation Realm!

That Spirit Turtle, no matter how Heaven-Defying, was only third-tier, at most equivalent to a human's Meridian Opening Realm!

How could it possibly withstand the suppression of the sea suppressing talisman?!

"Be suppressed!!!"

Zhuang Bai roared, forming hand seals with both hands, frantically channeling spiritual power into the sea suppressing talisman in the river, trying to enhance the talisman's power.

However, the force of resistance from the riverbed grew stronger and stronger!

It was as if an awakened Primeval Ferocious Beast was breaking free from its shackles of slumber!

"For me... open!!!"

At the riverbed, Li Qing's eyes were bloodshot, his Battle Intent boiling!

The muscles of the Earth Spirit Turtle Clone's limbs were knotted to their limit.

Blue veins coiled under its skin like earth dragons. Its massive body, at this moment, seemed to transform into a pillar holding up the heavens!

BOOM—!!!

Accompanied by an earth-shattering roar!

The suppressive force formed by the sea suppressing talisman, powerful enough to crush mountains and rivers, was actually... pushed open by the Earth Spirit Turtle Clone!

The river water, suppressed to its extreme, surged skywards like a volcanic eruption!

A terrifying water column, hundreds of zhang high, shot into the sky!

Atop that water column, an enormous black figure, bathed in a shower of water droplets, broke through the surface!

It was the Earth Spirit Turtle Clone!

At this moment, its turtle shell was covered in fine cracks, and a trace of golden blood hung from the corner of its mouth, looking somewhat battered.

But its bell-like giant eyes burned with raging fury and Battle Intent, firmly locked onto the dumbfounded figure at the ship's bow.

Zhuang Bai!

The entire scene fell deathly silent!

Everyone was shocked Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering by the awe-inspiring sight before their eyes!

A giant turtle, withstanding the suppression of a fourth-tier treasure talisman, emerged from the water!

Then it glared fiercely at Zhuang Bai.

And dove back down.

Now Li Qing was injured, while Zhuang Bai was still at full strength.

Following one's heart was no problem!

What a terrifying Physical Body this was!

What Heaven-Defying power!

Zhuang Bai's face instantly turned extremely ugly, and a storm of shock and awe surged in his heart.

He had still underestimated this Spirit Turtle!

This was no Mid-tier Spirit Beast!

This was!

A High-Tier Spirit Beast!

This was a type of Spirit Beast that only appeared in major cities.

It was not something he could covet!

On the Qiu River, a deathly silence prevailed.

The river wind blew, carrying the scent of blood and water vapor, yet it could not disperse the chill in everyone's hearts.

City Lord Zhuang Bai stood at the bow of the flagship, his brocade robes fluttering in the wind, but the commanding authority he usually exuded had completely vanished at this moment.

His face was as pale as paper, his eyes fixed intently on the enormous Spirit Turtle on the river surface.

The Guards and retainers behind him were all skilled individuals at the Meridian Opening Realm or even the Condensing Essence Realm, yet now they were all as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Their hands gripping their weapons were white-knuckled from excessive force, their palms already soaked in cold sweat.

The image of that Spirit Turtle withstanding the fourth-tier sea suppressing talisman was like a brand, deeply seared into their Divine Souls.

That was not an existence they could match.

Even the City Lord could not match it.

"C-City Lord..."

A trusted Guard spoke up with a dry voice, breaking the silence.

"Do we... continue?"

Continue?

Bitterness welled up in Zhuang Bai's heart.

With what could they continue?

His strongest trump card had already been used. Not only had it failed to suppress and kill the opponent, it had instead enraged that terrifying existence.

If the other party sought revenge regardless of cost, his fleet, and even the entire Jinling City, might pay a terrible price.

He was no reckless fool.

The flames of greed were completely extinguished by icy fear in the face of an absolute disparity in strength.

Capture it alive?

Take it as a beast companion?

Thinking back, how ignorant.

"Pass down my order."

Zhuang Bai took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the palpitations in his heart, regaining some of his City Lord's dignity, though his voice still carried a barely noticeable hoarseness.

"All ships, retreat ten li, lift the blockade on the Qiu River."

"Today's events are classified as top secret."

"Anyone who dares leak even half a word will be executed without mercy, with their three generations of family implicated!"

His voice was not loud, but each word was clear.

Everyone's hearts tightened, and they answered in unison: "We obey!"

They understood. The City Lord was afraid.

It was also to preserve Jinling City.

Zhuang Bai looked towards the river surface again, his expression complex.

Beyond the fear, a different thought quietly sprouted.

Having such an unfathomable guardian Spirit Beast in Jinling City was a potential calamity, but perhaps also a blessing?

If they could befriend it, rather than make it an enemy... "Prepare a generous gift," Zhuang Bai whispered to the steward beside him.

"Use my City Lord Manor's name and cast it into the river, as a gesture of apology and peace."

He didn't know if the Spirit Beast could understand, but this gesture had to be made.

This Great River... from now on, they could only seek friendship, not provoke... Deep in the river, beneath the silt.

Li Qing controlled the Earth Spirit Turtle Clone. Its massive body lay hidden. Earth Vein Sensing clearly detected the heart-palpitating pressure on the water surface gradually receding.

He was not lightly injured. The power of the sea suppressing talisman had almost cracked his turtle shell, and his internal organs had suffered severe shocks.

But now, wisps of earth essence were continuously flowing into his body through Earth Vein Sensing, repairing his injuries and replenishing his consumption.

"Spirit Transformation Realm... fourth-tier treasure talisman..."

Li Qing mentally reviewed the fierce battle just fought, gaining a clearer understanding of this world's top-tier combat power.

However, was this the top-tier combat power?

This Jinling City was only a small city after all!

If not for the Earth Spirit Turtle Clone's extraordinary innate talent and the advantage of fighting in its home territory of the Great River, today might have truly been a close call.

City Lord Manor, Zhuang Bai.

He had just heard Zhuang Bai's words.

This Zhuang Bai understood advantages and disadvantages well.

He hoped it wasn't a stalling tactic!

Otherwise, once he grew a bit more... The immediate priority wasn't revenge, but to continue developing.

Given enough time and resources to let the Earth Spirit Turtle Clone complete its next... what would a mere Jinling City Lord amount to then?

He calmed his mind, completely concealing his aura, like a true stubborn stone at the riverbed, silently absorbing power and healing his wounds.